Ae. Czeizel et al., PREGNANCY OUTCOMES IN A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL OF PERICONCEPTIONAL MULTIVITAMIN SUPPLEMENTATION - FINAL REPORT, Archives of gynecology and obstetrics, 255(3), 1994, pp. 131-139
The effect of periconceptional multivitamin/trace element supplementat
ion on pregnancy outcomes was evaluated in a randomised controlled tri
al. The final data-base included 5,502 females with confirmed pregnanc
y. A multivitamin including 0.8 mg folic acid or a trace element were
supplemented for at least 28 days before conception and continuing for
at least until the second missed menstrual period. Number of pregnanc
ies, terminations of pregnancies, four types of fetal deaths, livebirt
hs including low birth weight, preterm birth and sex ratio were analys
ed. Periconceptional multivitamin supplemetation increased fertility (
higher rates of cumulative conceptions and multiple births), had no si
gnificant effect on the rate of different groups of fetal deaths, low
birth weight and preterm birth in singletons. This primary preventive
method can reduce the occurrence and recurrence of neural-tube defects
and had no other significant effect on pregnancy outcomes except mult
iple births.